Rubber footwear



J. W. CLIFFORD RUBBER FOOTWEAR July 29, 1930.

Filed June 4, 1928 Patented July 29; 1930 UNITED. STATES PATENT [or-riceJOHN w. CLIFFORD, or nanea'rucx, connncrrcur, ASSIGNOR,IO'THE ooommm.

METALLIC RUBBER snon COMPANY, or nauoarucx, connncrxcn'r, A oonrone VTION OF CONNECTICUT RUBBER FOOTWEAR Application filed June 4, 1928,Serial No. 282,707.

g This invention relates to an article of'rpbber footwear, especially toboots and bootees. The present type of rubber footwear or bootee has atoe portion which is of uniform thickness and strength throughout.

type of footwear does not provide protection to the wearer againstshocks or blows on the toe.

It is an object of this invention to provide an article of footwear suchas a bootee having a toe portion so constructed as to provide a tipwhich will protect the wearer from blows. It is a further object of thisinvention to so strengthen the tip of a bootee or similar article as toprovide a toe non-crushable under ordinary service blows. A furtherobject of this invention is to increase the strength of the toe of anarticle of rubber footwear.

With the preferred form of the invention shown in the drawings in mindand without intending to limit the invention more than is required bythe prior art. the invention broadly consistsin providing. the tip of anarticle of rubber footwear with \a relatively thick 26 tough and formretentive layer of rubber composition which will serve to absorb shoc sand strengthen the tip against crushing and/or lacerating. r

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawingsin which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bootee with the toe portion in section.

Fig. 2 is a plan viewof the toeportion of the bootee. Referring to thedrawings the bootee has a sole 1 of a suitable rubber composition and arand 2 of like composition. A thin sheet of rubber 3 serves to connectthe sole. 1 and the insole of the bootee. The insole 1s comprised of twolayers 4 and 5 of rubber composition superimposed upon WlllCll 1s asheet 6 of fibrous material. The upper of the shoe consists of therubberized fabric 8 superimposed upon a layer of fabric 7. The edge of45 the layer of fabric 7 extends between the two layers 4 and 5 of theinsole so as to create a firm union between these elements. The edge ofthe layer of rubberized fabric 8 extends into contact with the layer ofrubber 3 and the rand 2. A faxing 9 serves to interconnect Suchthe upperof the shoe with the rand and sole. The bootee as so far described is ofconventional construction. 7

' In order to strengthen the tip of the shoe a cup shaped sheet ofrubber compound such 5:5v

as rag rubber extends between the layer of fabric 7 and the layer ofrubberized fabric 8 and around the tip of the shoe. This sheet 10 is ofrelatively considerable thickness as compared with the layers 7 and 8.The sheet 10 is of a tough resilient material and as the result of itscharacteristics, the relatively great thickness and its position in thetoe of the boot it provides protection to the wearer as blows from heavyhard articles and also serves to guard against any laceration such aswould occur if a sharp edge object struck the toe of an unprotectedboot.

The laminated article as described is'assembled upon a last andvulcanized so as to firmly unite the various elements of the structure.

As will occur to those versed in the art othermaterials may be'used inmaking the cup shaped sheet 10. Also the extent of the protective sheet10 may be increased to cover" more than the tip portion of the shoe.

In its broad aspects the invention consists in providing in the tip of ashoe a sheet of material which will strengthen the toe so as to provideprotection against shock and/or laceration.

For an understanding of the scope of the invention reference should bemade to the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protectby Letters Patent is: Y

1. A rubber bootee having an upper composed of an outer layer ofrubberized fabric and an inner layer of fabric, and a toe reinforcementbetween said layers and extendin only over the top and around the frontan the side portions of the toe, said reinforce.- ment consisting of atough rubber composition relatively thick as compared to said 'layerswhereby protection against blows and cute is provided for the wearer.

2. A rubber bootee having an upperc'om posed of an outer layer ofrubberized fabric and an inner layer of fabric, and a toe rein forcementbetween said layers and extending only over the top and around the frontand the side portions of the toe with wing portions which extend alongthe side portlon of the toe, said reinforcement consisting of a toughrubber composition relatively thick as compared to said layers wherebyprotection against blows and cuts is provided for the wearer.

10 Signed at Naugatuck, county of New Haven, State of Connecticut, this23rd day of May,- 1928.

JOHN W. CLIFFORD.

